The Sock 'Em, Bust 'Em Board Because that's our custom

Guess who’s back?!?!

September 4, 2014 by Mike Casazza

The odd stack, y’all. And it’s not a bad idea.

The odd stack was also known to confuse opponents because it’s so nuanced, and WVU did scramble Alabama and spring a bunch of blitzers unblocked to the quarterback. None of them made the play, but that’s another story for another day.

The list of teams running the true odd stack is short and honestly might not have more than Arizona, where former WVU defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel rejoined Rich Rodriguez, and WVU. The Mountaineers did play some 3-3-5 the past two years, but what Casteel and Gibson do is different. They were there for its creation and they don’t talk much about it. It causes problems because no one else runs it like they do.

The list of teams running the 3-4 is significantly longer, especially in the Big 12. As good as the odd stack was in the Big East, it’s probably better suited to succeed in the Big 12. It features and rewards athleticism and speed, hence the extra defensive back in place of a linebacker or defensive lineman. And you better have fast athletes to defend the pass in this conference or, well, you might look a lot like the Mountaineers did the past two years.

SBNation graphic

You’ll Never Talk Alone: S3E2

by Brad McElhinny

We’re back at 11 a.m. with our weekly WVU chat. We’ll try to talk about WVU v. Towson, but what went right and wrong in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game is open for discussion, too. Tell your friends, co-workers, family, postman and whoever else is within shouting distance.

You can start sending questions in now.

Live Blog You’ll Never Talk Alone: S3E2
 

Wednesday Walkthrough: Towson

September 3, 2014 by Mike Casazza

After a not-too-brief technological delay — I knew the video stuff was working too well — here’s your weekly primer on the weekend’s game.

Rumble, young man, rumble

by Mike Casazza

Show of hands: Who leaned forward in their seats when they saw this?

Thought so.

Dana Holgorsen needed to go outside his program and bring in Charles Sims last season to get a pas-catching running back who could redesign (maybe re-introduce) his offense, and by extension change the way defenses scheme the things he does. In 2011, Dustin Garrison (24), Andrew Buie (13), Vernard Roberts (!) (4) and Shawne Alston (2) combined for 43 catches. In 2012, Buie caught 29 passes, Garrison caught nine and Alston didn’t catch any … and those were WVU’s running backs before Tavon Austin V. 2.Oklahoma happened.

But you remember that game.

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Dana Holgorsen: Towson week

September 2, 2014 by Mike Casazza

The Good and the Bad of WVU v. Alabama

by Mike Casazza

There is a danger about the first game of the season for people like you and me. The teams have their own pitfalls, but you and I can misstep, too. We’ve waited so long for a game and for new impressions to be cast that we can sometimes force new things.

So I tend to maybe overreact by underreacting, if that makes any sense, and I’m the guy who’s going, “Yeah, nice effort, but the offense scored one touchdown and fell apart on the cusp of others … and you got a kickoff return touchdown. Let’s not book the Sugar Bowl quite yet.”

There’s a reality out there to address, but we have to find it still. That 33-23 score is going to resonate much differently in a few weeks. WVU might have lost to a suspect Alabama or a legit Alabama. Alabama might have gotten the better of an improved WVU or a familiar-looking WVU.

All of that said, I think the above is the moment you can look at and say, “This is going to be different.” You knew WVU wasn’t going away and not only had resources at its disposal, but knew how to use them. And Mario Alford is going to have a big season.

I know, I know, Kevin White had the bigger receiving game, but Alford is was there, too, and he’s going to be a part of the special teams and you have to think he’s going to get the ball in his hands running the ball. He’s stupid fast. Dana Holgorsen and Shannon Dawson are going to accommodate that.

I mean, look at this.

That move at the beginning is something to behold. He pretty much stops dead, and probably didn’t see that guy coming until when it happened. But by the time he runs right and turns the corner at the 20-yard line — solid Jewone Snow block right there — Alford is opened up again. Then he goes from the 20 to the Alabama 40 — that’s 40 yards — in 4.16 seconds, as pictured above. No, it’s not combine style where he starts from a crouch and bursts out of blocks, but it’s not a straight line, either.

Whew. We’re going to get Tavon Austin comparisons, and that’s fine. No one was faster or more dangerous in traffic than Tavon … but Alford is faster from point to point, if you ask me. Nevertheless, WVU has something on the outside opposite White, who, I’m telling you, is wholly different from what he was last season. This is not Austin/Stedman Bailey, but it’s going to be good.

There remains plenty to like about Saturday and going forward, but one thing I’m very interested in seeing is how WVU elevates Alford to pair properly with White and to make the most of his considerable skill. How did we get here? Let’s find out by taking a look at the good and the bad of WVU v. Alabama.

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Texts from Alabama Game Day

September 1, 2014 by Mike Casazza

Fantastic work, gang. And I mean all of that. Forty-one people contributed and it was impressive. The bar is really high now, so you’re not going to see all or a lot of your submissions, but don’t let that deter you in the future. You see the most improvement between the first and second games, right?

(If you’re new, I try to use the texts as a mosaic that chronologically recaps the game from a pretty diverse batch of perspectives.)

We’ll get more into this game this week because I can’t believe this week won’t be more about the last Saturday than the next Saturday. Let’s agree right now to not call Towson the FCS runner up and let’s not remind people the Tigers beat UConn in 2013. Towson lost a lot of players to graduation (and the NFL) and just lost to Central Connecticut State and its new staff. Plus, the last time beating Paul Pasqualoni came with merit was also the year WVU lost to Temple.

But it’s an interesting conundrum for Dana Holgorsen, who sort of saw this coming. He said at this press conference last Tuesday this week was going to be harder for him than last week. So I wondered this of a team that knew it could move the ball against Alabama and believed it was going to win: Does 33-23 reinforce that bravado or is it deflated because untimely letdowns showed the Mountaineers have a lot left to do?

“It gives us confidence because we know we can drive on anyone, but we have to work on getting better in critical situations because that’s what got us today,” quarterback Clint Trickett said.

He was reminded of what his former coach, Florida State’s Jimbo Fisher, liked to remind his players: You can still play good and play bad in critical situations and lose the game.

“That happened to us,” he said.

And that’s what stung the most. The offense felt like it was built to be better this season and then showcased that with drives of 51, 66, 75 and 79 yards, but ultimately realized its shortcomings kept it from it accomplished anything.

“I don’t think this helps us that much, honestly,” said receiver Jordan Thompson, who made an odd decision to field a 62-yard punt running backward and then lost a yard to be tackled at his 6-yard line.

“We already knew what we were capable of doing. We feel like we can move the ball on anybody in college football, so going out and executing, it wasn’t a surprise. We knew we were going to have to make some plays and sometimes we didn’t make those plays and that hurt us.”

I think we could go either way with either side of the coin, but we see WVU is equal parts cautiously content and mad with itself. So how about this? One game in, it looks like the Mountaineers are indeed better than they were.

It’s too soon to say how far they’ve come, but it’s not premature to say work remains. The drops by some players who are needed but were already on the cusp, the lack of players used in reserve on defense and especially on offense, the running game and the now sustained issues with third-down and red zone/score zone offense ought not be covered up because just WVU hung around with Alabama.

Got them racks, slinging them packs and no we can’t leave them sacks alone. Hired an assistant because my texts need a chaperon. My edits are in [brackets].

12:56:
There’s no Tudor’s in Montana.

1:40:
1. Nick O’Toole looks amazing. 2. We all need to know who the goofy lookin white guy giant is on our team.

1:40:
_eForest’s tan us outta control.

1:41:
I just saw Boomstache. Like a boss. #TFGD

2:54:
Kevin White is a grown [athletic] man. Wouldn’t want to have to guard him with a true freshman.

2:56:
Paul Rhodes is not proud right now

3:00:
North Dakota State about to be 3-0 vs Big XII since 2010.

3:01:
7NA just came on radio…omen?

3:08:
Remember when we lost to Iowa State? …

3:09:
Here’s hoping we score more than Chelsea today.

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WVU v. Alabama: They’re playing for second today

August 30, 2014 by Mike Casazza
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You are looking live at Robin Albano, an Alabama super fan from Decatur, Alabama, who has an ensemble or every Crimson Tide game. True story: I was in the College Football Hall of Fame earlier in the day. If you’ve never been, well, first, you should change that. Until then, you should know beneath the literal hall of fame is a level with exhibits that celebrate the sport, the history of it and especially the pageantry.

I saw Mr. Albano there and thought he was an exhibit in the part devoted to fans. He is not. I saw him tailgating outside the fan fest and had to stop and talk him up for a bit. He is a southern gentleman who happens to be fiercely and fashionably devoted to his team.

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He wins. He does. Anyhow, we’re on the 47-yard line at the Georgia Dome. I’ve heard the sound check for the PA and two things I should report: 1) No CEJ. 2) Sweet Home Alabama is available in the queue.

What do you say we blog, errbody?

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… you NEED KJ Dillon on that wall

August 29, 2014 by Mike Casazza

Someone asked me in yesterday’s chat how many players from WVU’s starting  lineup would make Alabama’s starting lineup. I couldn’t offer up an answer — he put me on the spot … but it’s different than basketball because basketball has five players and football has 22, but also because football has schemes and systems and what works for one might not work for the other — but I thought it was a really clever question. I even spent part of my flight from PIT to CLT giving it a whirl, and  maybe you all an tackle it here.

But here’s what we can agree on: WVU would use more Alabama players than Alabama would use WVU players, which gives us something else to consider.

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Clint used to kiss up to Alabama

by Mike Casazza

Actually, not really, but why should be I expected not to sensationalize a story about Clint Trickett? This is a fun little anecdote in advance of Saturday’s game.

“Not a lot of people know it, but out of high school, I was a huge Alabama fan — well, not out of high school,” he said. “My sophomore and junior year at North Florida Christian, we had a wide receiver who was committed to Alabama, so I went up with him all the time on his visits.”

Melvin Ray signed with Alabama in 2008, but ended up being drafted in the 33rd round of the Major League Baseball draft and playing in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. He eventually enrolled at Alabama, but transferred to Auburn and sat out the 2012 season. Ray caught five passes for 108 yards and a touchdown in last season’s national championship game loss to Florida State, where Rick Trickett is the offensive line coach.

“Weird deal,” Clint said.

I don’t know about you, but I’m relieved he hasn’t been biting his tongue, because I was worried. I’m still bitter he was made to delete his Twitter account. I don’t know what that teaches him, and I think a better punishment would have been making him use Twitter in a way that would force him full understand the reach and the sway his 140 characters hold — like, say, promoting women’s soccer and volleyball matches.

But this thing could have gone a bad way. Between The First Kiss and admitting he once pined for Alabama, it has gone the other way.